Dual outlet pump

ABSTRACT

A dual outlet pressure pump includes a housing having first and second inlets as well as first and second outlets. A plurality of vanes are driven by a rotor. An asymmetric rotor cavity includes a first surface engaged by the vanes shaped to at least partially define a plurality of low pressure, high volume chambers. The cavity also includes a second surface engaged by the vanes shaped to at least partially define a plurality of high pressure, low volume chambers. Rotation of the rotor and vanes substantially simultaneously pumps a high volume of low pressure fluid between the first inlet and the first outlet and a low volume of high pressure fluid between the second inlet and the second outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/389,776, filed on Oct. 5, 2010. The entire disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to fluid pumps. Moreparticularly, a pump having a first outlet providing a high fluid flowat low pressure and a second outlet providing low fluid flow at highpressure is described.

BACKGROUND

This section provides background information related to the presentdisclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

In typical present day automotive applications, manufacturers mayutilize two separate fluid pumps associated with an automatictransmission. A first fluid pump provides a high fluid flow at arelatively low pressure to cool and lubricate the components of theautomatic transmission. A second transmission fluid pump is configuredto provide a high output pressure at a relatively low flow rate tocontrol transmission operation.

More particularly, the high pressurized fluid is selectively placed incommunication with one or more chambers such that a force may be appliedto various clutches, brakes or other actuators to control transmissionoperation. While the separate pumps may have functioned satisfactorilyin the past, it may be desirable to provide a pump including dualoutlets providing the functions of both pumps in a single unit having areduced size, cost and weight when compared to previous systems.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not acomprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

A dual outlet pressure pump includes a housing having first and secondinlets as well as first and second outlets. A plurality of vanes aredriven by a rotor. An asymmetric rotor cavity includes a first surfaceengaged by the vanes shaped to at least partially define a plurality oflow pressure, high volume chambers. The cavity also includes a secondsurface engaged by the vanes shaped to at least partially define aplurality of high pressure, low volume chambers. Rotation of the rotorand vanes substantially simultaneously pumps a high volume of lowpressure fluid between the first inlet and the first outlet and a lowvolume of high pressure fluid between the second inlet and the secondoutlet.

A fluid pump includes a housing having an inlet, a first outlet and asecond outlet. A plurality of vanes are driven by a rotor rotatablysupported in the housing. The vanes define pressure chambers havingdifferent volumes. The first and second outlets receive fluid from theinlet and are associated with chambers having a decreasing volume. Thesecond outlet supplies fluid at a higher pressure and a lower flow ratethan the first outlet.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. The description and specific examples in this summaryare intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only ofselected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are notintended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual outlet pump constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of the pump shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the dual outlet pump;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front plate of the dual outlet pump;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the dual outlet pump;

FIGS. 6-9 are cross-sectional side views taken at different planes;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternate dual outlet pump;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken through the pump depicted inFIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is another cross-sectional view of the dual outlet pump taken ata different plane;

FIG. 13 is another cross-sectional view of the dual outlet pump taken ata different plane;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of the dual outlet pump;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a rear plate;

FIG. 16 is another perspective view of the rear plate;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a front plate;

FIG. 18 is another perspective view of the front plate;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a mid-plate;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary perspective view of another alternate dualoutlet pump; and

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the dual outlet pump and motorassembly.

Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-6 relate to a dual outlet pump 10 including a front plate 20, amid-plate 22 and a rear plate 24 fixed to one another by a plurality ofthreaded fasteners 26. As shown in FIG. 6, fastener 26 is configured asa socket head shoulder bolt to assure a predetermined spacing betweenfront plate 20 and rear plate 24. A driveshaft 14 is fixed for rotationwith a rotor 28 that rotates relative to front plate 20, mid-plate 22and rear plate 24. Front plate 20, mid-plate 22 and rear plate 24 areadapted to be positioned within a housing (not shown) having acylindrical cavity. Rotation of driveshaft 14 causes a pumping of fluidfrom an inlet port 15 to a first outlet port 16, as well as a secondoutlet port 18. First outlet port 16 provides a high flow, low pressureoutput. Second outlet port 18 provides a low flow, high pressure output.

Pump 10 also includes a plurality of radially moveable vanes 32positioned within a plurality of radially extending slots 34 formed inrotor 28. A distal surface 36 of each vane 32 is in contact with aninner surface 38 of mid-plate 22. Inner surface 38 is substantiallycylindrically shaped having its center positioned at an eccentriclocation relative to a rotor axis of rotation 42. Shaft 14 also rotatesalong axis of rotation 42. The eccentric relationship between surface 38and axis of rotation 42 defines a plurality of sequentially increasingand then decreasing chambers 46 between adjacent vanes 32. First outletport 16 is shaped and positioned to be in fluid communication withchambers 46 having a relatively large volume but decreasing in size suchthat a relatively high flow rate of pressurized fluid exits first outletport 16. Further along the circumference in the direction ofdecreasingly sized chambers, high pressure second outlet port 18 ispositioned in communication with chambers 46 where a very minimalclearance exists between surface 38 of mid-plate 22 and an outer surface50 of rotor 28. The size of pressure chambers 46 at this circumferentiallocation is relatively small thereby producing a relatively highpressure, low flow through second outlet port 18.

A plurality of circumferentially spaced apart passageways 52 areprovided in fluid communication with a proximal face 54 of each vane 32.Passageways 52 are provided with pressurized fluid from one of lowpressure outlet port 16 or high pressure outlet port 18. Rear plate 24includes a first groove 58 in communication with some of the passageways52 and low pressure outlet port 16. A passageway 59 interconnects groove58 and first outlet port 16. A second circumferentially extending groove60 is in fluid communication with the remaining passageways 52 and highpressure outlet port 18. A passageway 61 interconnects groove 60 andhigh pressure outlet port 18. Front plate 20 also includes similar firstand second grooves 64, 66. Unlike typical vane pumps, the dual outletpump 10 of the present disclosure is unbalanced due to a provision ofhigh pressure and low pressure outlet ports. In an attempt to balancethe loads through pump 10, the circumferential extent of grooves 58, 64is substantially greater than the circumferential extent of grooves 60,66.

Front plate 20 includes an inlet port groove 68 in fluid communicationwith inlet port 15 and several chambers 46 having sequentiallyincreasing volumes. A similar inlet port groove 69 is provided on rearplate 24. A low pressure outlet groove 70 circumferentially extendsalong a mating face 72 in communication with several chambers 46 havingsubsequently decreasing volumes. Rear plate 24 also includes acorresponding low pressure outlet groove 73. A passageway 76 extendsthrough front plate 20 exiting the side of the plate to provide lowpressure fluid between a first o-ring 80 and a second o-ring 82. A thirdo-ring 84 is positioned on rear plate 24. O-rings 80, 82, 84 sealinglyengage an inner cylindrical of the housing not depicted in the drawings.Low pressure fluid is provided between seals 80, 82 to enhance theirsealing properties.

Front plate 20 also includes a high pressure outlet aperture 85 in fluidcommunication with second groove 66. Mid-plate 22 includes a notch 90for providing high pressure fluid in communication with second outletport 18.

FIGS. 10-19 depict a second dual outlet pump identified at referencenumeral 200. Pump 200 includes a housing 202, a front plate 204, amid-plate 206, and a rear plate 208. Fasteners 210 interconnect frontplate 204, mid-plate 206 and rear plate 208. Fasteners 207 fix a flange209 of front plate 204 to housing 202. A shaft 212 is fixed for rotationwith a rotor 214. A plurality of radially moveable vanes 216 arepositioned within slots 218 formed in rotor 214. Pressure chambers 215are defined between adjacent vanes 216, rotor 214 and mid-plate 206.Driveshaft 212 rotates about an axis of rotation 217. Bearings 219, 220rotatably support driveshaft 212. A lip seal 221 is positioned withinfront plate 204 and sealingly engages driveshaft 212.

Housing 202 includes a low pressure inlet 222, a high pressure inlet224, a low pressure outlet 226 and a high pressure outlet 228. Mid-plate206 includes an asymmetrical cavity 232 providing pump 200 with its dualoutput pressure characteristic. A first portion 236 of asymmetricalcavity 232 is defined by a first surface 238 and is spaced from an outersurface 240 of rotor 214 a maximum distance. As such, the volumesdefined by pressurized chambers located between adjacent vanes 216 andfirst surface 238 are relatively large when compared to otherpressurized chambers about the circumference of rotor 214. Moreparticularly, a second surface 246 defines a second portion 248 ofasymmetric cavity 232. Second surface 246 is positioned much closer toouter surface 240 of rotor 214 than first surface 238. To providepumping, it should be appreciated that both first surface 238 and secondsurface 246 are curved surfaces such that successive pressurizedchambers of increasing volume and then decreasing volume are definedwhen the rotation direction of rotor 214 is taken into account.

As shown in the Figures, high pressure inlet 224 is associated with theincreasing volume chambers at least partially defined by surface 246. Ahigh pressure inlet port 249 is formed in front plate 204. A highpressure inlet port 250 is formed in rear plate 208. The high pressureinlet ports 249, 250 are aligned with a high pressure inlet aperture 251extending through mid-plate 206.

High pressure outlet 228 is in fluid communication with the pressurechambers 215 having sequentially decreasing volumes at least partiallydefined by surface 246. Pressurized fluid exits pressure chambers 215through high pressure outlet ports 253, 255 in front plate 204 and rearplate 208, respectively. A high pressure outlet aperture 257interconnects high pressure outlet ports 253, 255.

Low pressure inlet 222 is in fluid communication with a cavity 252formed between an inner surface 254 of housing 202 and an outer surface258 of mid-plate 206. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 19, a chamfer 260 isformed on mid-plate 206 to provide a low pressure inlet passageway 261for fluid passing through low pressure inlet 222 to enter the chambersat least partially defined by first surface 238. Low pressure inletports 262, 264 are formed in front plate 204 and rear plate 208,respectively. Low pressure inlet ports 262, 264 provide a reservoir andpassageway for low pressure fluid to enter the chambers havingsequentially increasing volume associated with first surface 238. Asrotor 214 rotates, pressurized fluid enters low pressure outlet ports270, 272. A low pressure outlet aperture 276 extends through mid-plate206 and interconnects low pressure outlet ports 270, 272. The highpressure fluid path remains separated from the low pressure fluid path.

Rotor 214 includes a plurality of passageways 292 positioned at the endsof slots 218. Front plate 204 includes a first circumferentiallyextending slot 294 in communication with the low pressure fluid and anopposing circumferentially extending slot 296 in receipt of highpressure fluid. In similar fashion, rear plate 208 includes a first slot300 in receipt of low pressure fluid and a second slot 302 in receipt ofhigh pressure fluid. The size and shape of each of the slots correspondsto the positions of passageways 292 to apply pressurized fluid to a backface of vanes 216 to maintain engagement between each vane and firstsurface 238 and second surface 246.

FIG. 20 depicts an alternate dual outlet pump 320. Pump 320 issubstantially similar to pump 200. As such, like elements will retaintheir previously introduced reference numerals including a lower “a”suffix. FIG. 20 represents a possible orientation of mid-plate 206 ahaving low pressure inlet passageway 261 a positioned on an oppositeside of the pump as low pressure inlet 222 a. It is contemplated thatthe pump 320 is mounted vertically as depicted in FIG. 20. The cavity252 a between outer surface 258 a and inner surface 254 a may becomefilled with fluid due to the position of pump 320 within a reservoir orsome other fluid supply mechanism. The fluid to be pumped continues tofill cavity 252 a until it reaches and enters low pressure inletpassageway 261 a. As such, a particular customer's packagingrequirements regarding the location of plumbing inlets and outlets maybe met using this concept.

FIG. 21 represents an exemplary motor and pump assembly 350 including amotor 352 driving a shaft 354. Shaft 354 is a monolithic, one-piecemember extending through a mounting plate 356. Shaft 354 is fixed forrotation with a rotor 358 of a pump 360. Pump 360 may be configured aspump 10, pump 200 or pump 320 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided forpurposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or featuresof a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particularembodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be usedin a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described.The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to beregarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modificationsare intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dual outlet pressure pump, comprising: ahousing including first and second inlets as well as first and secondoutlets; a rotor; a plurality of vanes driven by the rotor; and anasymmetric rotor cavity having a first surface engaged by the vanes andbeing shaped to at least partially define a plurality of low pressure,high volume chambers, the cavity also including a second surface engagedby the vanes and being shaped to at least partially define a pluralityof high pressure, low volume chambers, wherein rotation of the rotor andvanes substantially simultaneously pumps a high volume of low pressurefluid between the first inlet and the first outlet, and a low volume ofhigh pressure fluid between the second inlet and the second outlet. 2.The dual outlet pressure pump of claim 1, wherein the first cavitysurface is spaced apart further from the rotor than the second cavitysurface.
 3. The dual outlet pressure pump of claim 1, wherein the lowpressure high volume chambers define volumes greater than the highpressure, low volume chambers.
 4. The dual outlet pressure pump of claim1, wherein the pump is a fixed capacity pump.
 5. The dual outletpressure pump of claim 1, wherein the pump includes first, second andthird plates fixed to one another, the second plate including theasymmetrical cavity in receipt of the rotor and the vanes.
 6. The dualoutlet pressure pump of claim 5, wherein the first plate includes afirst outlet port in communication with at least one of the lowpressure, high volume chambers and the first outlet, the plate alsoincluding a second outlet port spaced apart from the first outlet port,in communication with at least one of the high pressure, high volumechambers and the second outlet.
 7. The dual outlet pressure pump ofclaim 6, wherein the first plate includes a first slot in receipt of lowpressurized fluid and a second spaced apart slot in receipt of highpressure fluid, the slots providing pressurized fluid to faces of thevanes to urge the vanes toward the first and second surfaces of thecavity.
 8. The dual outlet pressure pump of claim 7, wherein the secondplate includes a chamfered edge providing a flow path in communicationwith the first inlet.
 9. The dual outlet pressure pump of claim 8,wherein the third plate includes a first outlet port in communicationwith at least one of the low pressure, high volume chambers and thefirst outlet, the third plate also including a second outlet port spacedapart from the first outlet port, in communication with at least one ofthe high pressure, low volume chambers and the second outlet.
 10. Thedual outlet pressure pump of claim 9, wherein the second plate includesa high pressure passageway interconnecting the second outlet port of thefirst plate and the second outlet port of the third plate.
 11. The dualoutlet pressure pump of claim 10, wherein the third plate includes afirst inlet port in communication with the low pressure, high volumechambers and a second inlet port in communication with the highpressure, low volume chambers.
 12. The dual outlet pressure pump ofclaim 11, wherein a storage cavity is formed between the second plateand the housing to store low pressure fluid, the second plate includinga low pressure inlet passageway to allow fluid to flow from the storagecavity to the rotor cavity.
 13. The dual outlet pressure pump of claim1, further including an electric motor mounted within the housing and amonolithic shaft driven by the motor driving the rotor.
 14. A fluidpump, comprising: a housing including an inlet, a first outlet and asecond outlet; a rotor rotatably supported in the housing; a pluralityof vanes driven by the rotor and defining pressure chambers havingdifferent volumes; and the first and second outlets receiving fluid fromthe inlet and being associated with chambers having a decreasing volume,wherein the second outlet supplies fluid at a higher pressure and alower flow rate than the first outlet.
 15. The fluid pump of claim 14,wherein the pump is a fixed capacity pump.
 16. The fluid pump of claim14, wherein the housing includes first, second and third plates fixed toone another, the second plate including a cylindrically shaped cavity inreceipt of the rotor and the vanes.
 17. The fluid pump of claim 16,wherein the first plate includes a first outlet port in communicationwith several pressure chambers and the first outlet, the plate alsoincluding a second outlet port spaced apart from the first outlet portand in communication with the second outlet.
 18. The pump of claim 17,wherein the second outlet port is circumferentially spaced apart fromthe first outlet port and positioned further downstream than the firstoutlet port.